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Dell Inspiron 640m Owner's Manual - Page 93

Unexpected characters, Lockups and Software Problems, The computer does not start up

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TO VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD, CHECK THE INTEGRATED KEYBOARD - 1 Shut down the computer. 2 Disconnect the external keyboard. 3 Turn on the computer. 4 From the Windows desktop, click the Start button, point to All Programs→ Accessories, and click Notepad. 5 Type some characters on the internal keyboard and verify that they appear on the display. If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard, you may have a defective external keyboard. Contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 135. R U N T H E K E Y B O A R D D I A G N O S T I C S T E S T S - Run the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards tests in the Dell Diagnostics. See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 81. If the tests indicate a defective external keyboard, contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 135. Unexpected characters DISABLE THE NUMERIC KEYPAD - Press to disable the numeric keypad if numbers are displayed instead of letters. Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit. Lockups and Software Problems CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide. The computer does not start up ENSURE THAT THE AC ADAPTER IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET The computer stops responding NOTICE: You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown. TURN THE COMPUTER OFF - If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off. Then restart your computer. A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly END THE PROGRAM - 1 Press simultaneously. 2 Click the Applications tab and select the program that is no longer responding. 3 Click End Task. NOTE: The chkdsk program may run when you restart the computer. Follow the instructions on the screen. Troubleshooting 93

Section	Page
Owner’s Manual	1
Contents	3
Finding Information	11
A Tour of Your Computer	15
Front View	15
Left Side View	19
Right Side View	21
Back View	22
Bottom View	23
Setting Up Your Computer	25
Connecting to the Internet	25
Setting Up Your Internet Connection	25
Transferring Information to a New Computer	26
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System CD	26
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System CD	27
Setting Up a Printer	28
Printer Cable	29
Connecting a USB Printer	29
Power Protection Devices	30
Surge Protectors	30
Line Conditioners	30
Uninterruptible Power Supplies	30
Using the Display	31
Adjusting Brightness	31
Switching the Video Image	31
Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate	31
Using the Keyboard and Touch Pad	33
Numeric Keypad	33
Key Combinations	34
System Functions	34
Battery	34
CD or DVD Tray	34
Display Functions	34
Radios (Including Wireless Networking and an Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology)	34
Power Management	34
Speaker Functions	35
Microsoft® Windows® Logo Key Functions	35
Touch Pad	36
Customizing the Touch Pad	36
Using a Battery	37
Battery Performance	37
Checking the Battery Charge	38
Dell™ QuickSet Battery Meter	38
Microsoft® Windows® Power Meter	38
Charge Gauge	38
Low-Battery Warning	39
Conserving Battery Power	39
Power Management Modes	39
Configuring Power Management Settings	41
Charging the Battery	41
Replacing the Battery	41
Storing a Battery	42
Using CDs, DVDs, and Other Multimedia	43
Playing CDs or DVDs	43
Adjusting the Volume	45
Adjusting the Picture	45
Microsoft® Windows® XP	45
Using Dell Media Experience™ and Dell MediaDirect™	46
If the computer is on or in standby mode	46
If the computer is off or in hibernate mode	46
Dell MediaDirect and Dell Media Experience Help	47
Using the Dell MediaDirect™ Repair Utility CD or the Dell MediaDirect Reinstallation CD	47
Repairing Dell MediaDirect	48
Reinstalling Dell MediaDirect	48
Connecting Your Computer to a TV or Audio Device	49
S-Video and Standard Audio	51
S-Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	53
Composite Video and Standard Audio	55
Composite Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	56
Component Video and Standard Audio	58
Component Video and S/PDIF Digital Audio	60
Configuring DVD Playback Using Headphones	62
Enabling the Display Settings for a TV	63
Using ExpressCards	65
ExpressCard Types	65
ExpressCard Blanks	65
Installing an ExpressCard	65
Removing an ExpressCard or Blank	66
Media Memory Card Types	67
Media Memory Card Blanks	67
Installing a Media Memory Card	68
Removing a Media Memory Card or Blank	69
Setting Up a Network	71
Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem	71
Network Setup Wizard	71
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)	72
What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection	72
Checking Your Wireless Network Card	72
Setting Up a New WLAN	73
Connecting to a Wireless Local Area Network	74
Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card	75
Monitoring the Status of Wireless Network Connections Through Dell™ QuickSet	76
Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)	76
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection	76
Connecting to a Mobile Broadband Network	76
Bluetooth Network	77
Setting up your Bluetooth Connection	77
Connecting to a Bluetooth Network	77
Securing Your Computer	79
Security Cable Lock	79
Passwords	79
Computer Tracking Software	80
If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen	80
Troubleshooting	81
Dell Technical Update Service	81
Dell Diagnostics	81
When to Use the Dell Diagnostics	81
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive	81
Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD	82
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu	83
Dell Support Utility	84
Accessing the Dell Support Utility	84
Clicking the Dell Support Icon	85
Double-Clicking the Dell Support Icon	85
Drive Problems	85
CD and DVD drive problems	85
If you cannot eject the CD, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD+RW drive tray	86
If you hear an unfamiliar scraping or grinding sound	86
Hard drive problems	86
E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems	86
Error Messages	88
ExpressCard Problems	91
IEEE 1394 Device Problems	92
Keyboard Problems	92
External Keyboard problems	92
Unexpected characters	93
Lockups and Software Problems	93
The computer does not start up	93
The computer stops responding	93
A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly	93
A program is designed for an earlier Microsoft® Windows® operating system	94
A solid blue screen appears	94
Dell MediaDirect problems	94
Other software problems	95
Memory Problems	95
Network Problems	96
Power Problems	96
Printer Problems	97
Scanner Problems	97
Sound and Speaker Problems	98
No sound from integrated speakers	98
No sound from external speakers	98
No sound from headphones	99
Touch Pad or Mouse Problems	99
Video and Display Problems	99
If the display is blank	99
If the display is difficult to read	100
If only part of the display is readable	100
Drivers	101
What Is a Driver?	101
Identifying Drivers	101
Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities	101
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities	103
Restoring Your Operating System	104
Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore	104
Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec	105
Using the Operating System CD	107
Adding and Replacing Parts	109
Before You Begin	109
Recommended Tools	109
Turning Off Your Computer	109
Before Working Inside Your Computer	110
Hard Drive	111
Returning a Hard Drive to Dell	113
Optical Drives	114
About the Device Security Screw	114
Removing and Installing Optical Drives	114
Memory	115
Installing a Memory Module in Connector DIMM B	116
Installing a Memory Module in Connector DIMM A	118
Modem (Optional)	121
Mini-Card	123
Hinge Cover	125
Removing the Hinge Cover	125
Replacing the Hinge Cover	127
Keyboard	127
Removing the Keyboard	127
Replacing the Keyboard	128
Internal Card With Bluetooth® Wireless Technology	128
Coin-Cell Battery	130
Removing the Coin-Cell Battery	130
Replacing the Coin-Cell Battery	130
Dell™ QuickSet Features	131
Traveling With Your Computer	133
Identifying Your Computer	133
Packing the Computer	133
Travel Tips	134
Traveling by Air	134
Contacting Dell	135
Specifications	157
Appendix	165
Using the System Setup Program	165
Viewing the System Setup Screen	165
System Setup Screen	165
Commonly Used Options	166
Cleaning Your Computer	167
Computer, Keyboard, and Display	167
Touch Pad	167
Floppy Drive	168
CDs and DVDs	168
Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)	168
Definition of \	169
Definition of \	169
FCC Notice (U.S. Only)	169
FCC Class B	169
Macrovision Product Notice	170
Glossary	171

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Troubleshooting

VERIFY

THAT

THE

PROBLEM

WITH

THE

EXTERNAL

KEYBOARD

CHECK

THE

INTEGRATED

KEYBOARD

—

Shut down the computer.

Disconnect the external keyboard.

Turn on the computer.

From the Windows desktop, click the

Start

button, point to

All Programs

→

Accessories

, and click

Notepad

Type some characters on the internal keyboard and verify that they appear on the display.

If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard, you may have a defective external

keyboard. Contact Dell.

See "Contacting Dell" on page 135.

THE

KEYBOARD

DIAGNOSTICS

TESTS

—

Run the PC-AT Compatible Keyboards tests in the Dell

Diagnostics. See "Dell Diagnostics" on page 81. If the tests indicate a defective external keyboard,

contact Dell. See "Contacting Dell" on page 135.

Unexpected characters

ISABLE

THE

NUMERIC

KEYPAD

—

Press <Num Lk> to disable the numeric keypad if numbers are

displayed instead of letters. Verify that the numbers lock light is not lit.

Lockups and Software Problems

CAUTION:

Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the

Product

Information Guide

The computer does not start up

NSURE

THAT

THE

ADAPTER

FIRMLY

CONNECTED

THE

COMPUTER

AND

THE

ELECTRICAL

OUTLET

The computer stops responding

NOTICE:

You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.

URN

THE

COMPUTER

OFF

—

If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or

moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer

turns off. Then restart your computer.

A program stops responding or crashes repeatedly

THE

PROGRAM

—

Press <Crtl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously.

Click the

Applications

tab and select the program that is no longer responding.

Click

End Task

NOTE:

The chkdsk program may run when you restart the computer. Follow the instructions on the screen.